What I Wish My Photographer Would Have Told Me About Displaying My Photos
Display your portrait in your bedroom!
Are you overwhelmed with hundreds of photos, from professional ones to silly cell phone shots? And, are you struggling to decide which ones to frame or how to display them all?
You're not alone!
Many clients love collecting digital files from other Victorville Family Photographers along with their personal iPhone pictures.
But let's be honest, this means tons of your memories are just floating around in the cloud, leaving your home without any of those printed moments.
We both understand the importance of printing our photos.
I’m a huge advocate for printing out your photos. Huuuuuge!! I have zero images of my wedding. I know weddings are a little different than family photos- albeit more important- and, I have none.
I went with the cheapest photographer I could find, on Craigslist. And, she saved the photos to her laptop, but it died, and I received nothing, except a refund. I’ve always wanted to retake my wedding photos, but here we are, almost 20 years later and I still haven’t done it (the dress no longer fits either, ugh!) I blame mashed potatoes!
If you have a photographer that only does digital files, and you think that’s fine. Great. But, I ask, what are you doing with those images? Letting them sit on a computer somewhere? Then, what? What happens when your computer dies?
USB drives are starting to become obsolete. CDs used to be the preferred delivery method when digital cameras were new. Do you have a way of playing a CD? Nope, me neither.
Paper, however, is easy and will always be around. You can hang it, flip through a book of it, place it on a shelf, and more.
That's why I've come up with a few fabulous and very versatile ways to showcase your photos, fitting your style and your home!
Victorville Photographer specializing in Fantasy and Families.
Loose Prints
This is a simple option people don’t often think about now that everything is digital!
Your images can be printed on normal paper, ultra-thick paper (like canvas), or even fancy paper with rough edges that look vintage and fantasy-like. Display the prints in a frame, on a little stand, or just lean them against something on a shelf.
If you love changing things up in your house, these are perfect! Plus, if you move a lot, they're easy to pack and take with you. Win-win!
A recent client purchased several loose prints because she was planning on redecorating her home. She wanted a few images from the session now but also wanted large wall pieces to go with her new decor, in the future. In this instance, I saved her gallery and told her to come back (within the year) when she was ready.
Photo albums are a great way to store your images.
Albums and Books
They're not just for weddings anymore!
Albums are fantastic for birth photos, vacation snaps, and lifestyle family sessions. They tell a story, don't take up very much space, and are perfect for those of us who prefer a clean look without too many photos on display.
My favorite thing about using albums to display family photos is they can double as interactive decor pieces. Sure they can go on a shelf or in a drawer for safekeeping. But, if you display them open or on a coffee table, it invites family and guests to flip through and relive those special moments.
Oh, and the best part? Kids love looking through them, and it's a wonderful way for them to connect with family history and fun stories. Kids also get a confidence boost when they see themselves in photos.
My parents divorced when I was 9 months old, so I don’t have any family photos of us together, except at Christmas. I was born in the summer and Christmas came a few months after. I’ve always cherished the few photos of me with my parents in my album. Of course, I’m tiny and don’t remember being there, but it’s me in the photos with my mom and dad, and they are very special to me.
Displaying your images makes a big impact on you, and your confidence.
Wall Art
Did you know that a large, statement, wall portrait can actually make a room look bigger? It's true! When you choose one large portrait instead of multiple smaller ones, it creates a focal point and gives the illusion of more space. It also looks clean and clutter-free— If that’s the look you’re going for.
Pro tip: If you hang your portrait lower, at eye level, it makes the room feel cozier and more connected to the photo. If you want to make the room seem taller, hang it higher.
A Huntington Beach Interior Designer agreed to do an interview with me and she shared so many great tips with me. Click here to read it. I learned a few interesting things and cannot wait to tackle my own living room this summer!
A few years ago, I took a family photo of my kids for a class I was enrolled in. I printed it out in black and white and on canvas. It’s a good size at 40”. It’s big and makes a statement. The kids love walking by it and so do I.
I love black and white because it’s classic and you can change the frame to whatever your style evolves into, in 5-10 years. I opted for a loose canvas instead of mounted– meaning it’s not attached to a wood frame. I can pop it into a new frame and wah-la! Art.
The best thing about choosing a large print is you can always change the frame as your style or home decor changes! It’s simple and easy.
Social Media and all the photos
Social Media Albums (like Chatbooks)
Let’s be honest, creating a full professional album for every single life event can be a LOT.
Not to mention, sometimes you just want photos in an album from your day-to-day life.
That’s why I love services like Chatbooks to print life in between professional photography sessions!
Basically, Chatbooks takes your social media or phone photos and allows you to print them into small albums plus you can add captions (or use your captions from social media.) Fun, right?
If you value your day-to-day photos and want to print them, this is such a perfect solution.
Personally, I used to print an album every year using Shutterfly, but it took me hours to get everything organized and the images took even longer to upload! Plus, the colors were iffy. Now, that I’m a professional photographer, I use professional print labs that are only available to businesses. But, Chatbooks is super easy and a fabulous option!
Digital Photo Frames
I like to think of digital photo frames as albums, but better. They’re so versatile and work with any decor style or set of photos!
Picture this: it’s Thanksgiving and your digital photo frame is flipping through images from Thanksgiving over the years. What a fun talking piece, right?
I bought my dad a digital frame for Father’s Day and I can airdrop recent photos to it. It’s a fun surprise and always makes his day brighter! I need to add one to my list for my mom, for Christmas. She’d love it, too!
Shh, don’t tell her what she’s getting this year.
This brings up a fun point– are you tired of asking your parents and grandparents what they want for the holidays and their birthdays? Their answer is always “Oh, some pictures of the kids”. Digital frames are a gift that keeps on giving!
Pro tip: This might seem random, but you could even have a digital frame dedicated to showing off your kid’s artwork! If you’ve ever tossed a piece of art your kid made at school (or home) because you didn’t have the space to store it, this is a great way to keep it alive and make your kids feel special, too. It’s even better than the fridge!
Okay, now you have some fresh new ideas on how to print and display photos from your favorite Victorville Family Photographer, as well as those sweet everyday cell phone images!
If you’re ready to get your family session on the books so you can create some of these for your home, reach out!
Click here to learn more about my Fantasy and Family Photography in Victorville.
Want to learn a little bit more about Non-Traditional Family Sessions? Click here.
Yaaay! You made it to the end. I hope you loved reading What I Wish My Photographer Would Have Told Me About Displaying My Photos and it’s given you tons of fun ideas on how to display your photos in your home! If you’re still looking for a Victorville Family Photographer, click here to see my portfolio of fantasy images.
Cheers to displaying portraits in your home!
Annette
Multiple images make create a fun look on your livign room wall.
